HOUSTON — Former President George W. Bush will deliver the keynote luncheon address Nov. 14 at Hart Energy’s 5th annual DUG East conference and exhibition.

This year’s event will be held Nov. 13-15 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh.

The DUG (Developing Unconventionals) conference provides detailed exploration and drilling activity updates, technology exhibits, and peer-to-peer networking for those doing business in the Appalachian Basin.

Senior execs to speak

Attendees will also hear first-hand reports from senior executives of the most active companies pursuing the Marcellus and Utica plays.

Dan O. Dinges, chairman, president and CEO of Cabot Oil & Gas, will deliver the opening address.

In “operator spotlight” presentations, Nicholas DeIuliis, president of leading Appalachian producer CONSOL Energy Inc., will discuss its strategies for increasing recoverable reserves and trimming costs in its Marcellus wells, and Jeffrey Ventura, president and CEO of Range Resources Corp., will review plans for its 1 million net shale acres in Pennsylvania.

Jim Palm, CEO of Gulfport Energy Corp., will join John B. Walker, president and CEO of EnerVest Ltd. and executive chairman of EV Energy Partners, in a roundtable discussion of what’s known about this emerging play today.

Other industry speakers include:

• James Trimble, president and CEO, PDC Energy;
• Benjamin Hulburt, president and CEO, Eclipse Resources;
• Randy S. Nickerson, executive vice president and CCO, MarkWest Energy Partners LP;
• Christopher Simon, managing director, Raymond James & Associates;
• Paul A. Weissgarber, senior vice president, Crosstex Energy;

For the complete agenda and registration information, visit dugeast.com.